MORGANTOWN, West Virginia — Last year in the season opener at Penn State, KeAndre Lambert-Smith absolutely shredded West Virginia in the Nittany Lions’ 38-15 victory over the Mountaineers, accounting for 4 receptions for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Now, Lambert-Smith is in the transfer portal, and West Virginia is among the favorites to land him. In fact, according to On3.com, the Mountaineers are in the driver’s seat in his transfer recruitment right now.
“KeAndre Lambert-Smith entered the transfer portal Monday and immediately became the top available wide receiver in college football,” Pete Nakos of On3.com said. The 5th-year player led the Nittany Lions with 53 catches for 673 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. Speaking with a source close to the situation, Texas A&M, Auburn, Colorado, Georgia and West Virginia are among the teams who have contacted the wide receiver.”
Nakos went on to say, “West Virginia provides the opportunity to step in and immediately become a threat in the passing game. Quarterback Garrett Greene threw for 2,406 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.”
In addition, J.D. Pickell posted a video on social media today, projecting where the top players in the transfer portal will end up, and he predicted Lambert-Smith to become a Mountaineer. “KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s cell phone likely hasn’t stopped ringing since he jumped in to the transfer portal,” Pickell said. “I’m going to call my shot for the former Penn State wideout to end up at West Virginia. The Mountaineers are reportedly gaining some traction when it comes to his recruitment. Also, it can’t hurt that they are about a road trip away from Norfolk, Virginia, where Lambert-Smith is from.”
West Virginia is absolutely loaded with talent on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball heading into the 2024 season, but one thing they are missing is a true #1 wide receiver. With Lambert-Smith available as the top wide receiver in the transfer portal, landing him would be one of the most important moves Neal Brown and his coaching staff could make this offseason.
West Virginia opens the 2024 season at home against Lambert-Smith’s former team, the Penn State Nittany Lions, on August 31st.
